Zefren Presents the 1916 Kansas City Blues

I had some requests to post the Flip side to Hesitation Blues so here it is, Thank you to everyone for your kinds words and support- Zefren

When this song was recorded Ragtime was still the King of popular music, but ragtimes complex harmonies and concrete structure was giving way to the next phase of popular music. The animal dance craze was starting to reach a fever pitch as aspiring composters were trying to discover the next sound. The Turkey trot, bunny hug, the Grizzly bear and the enduring Fox-trot offered people a lightly syncopated structure that was adept at improvisation and band arrangements. Blues songs were also starting to become popular as the younger Americans yearned for the once forbidden blues songs. This recording is one of those early Blues songs arranged in a slow Fox Trot and played by the Victor Military Band in 1916. I suppose if you combine the two styles and add a talented soloist you get the birth of jazz. Still this is an amazing record and the sound is half ragtime and a jumpy Blues song so please enjoy and leave comments and suggestions.


Kansas City Blues (E. L. Bowman) Arr. Harry L. Alford
Played by the Victor Military band
Victor Record Company with Bat wing Label
18163-B
Acoustically Recorded in 09.15.1916 - 1st Take

additional info is at http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/matrixDetail.php?id=700003416

Recorded in Shiprock New Mexico Monday, February 22, 2009 on a TTUSB ION turntable.
Category: Music

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kansas
• City
• Blues
• victor
• military
• band
• 19216
• 78
• RPM
• ragtime
• early
• blues
• song
• fox
• tort
• jazz
• Gay
• Navajo
• Shiprock
• new
• Mexico

[formiggini]

A really good record!

That speed do you select? The tempo seems pretty right.

[Zefrenm]

I didn't take notes like i ushally do, but a little math puts my record at 70 RPMs.

[chrishibbs201012]

hey zef you did have on a columbia record played at 80 rpm,s nd the label is blue with gold print.

[JCJasion]

This makes for an interesting comparison with the Wilber Sweatman recording of the same tune that you just posted. This lumbers like a drunken bear. The Sweatman recording "swings" in a rudimentary sense. Then again, I have visions of the white studio musicians at this recording session reading this music at first sight.

[robchalfen]

I believe pre-electric Victors were cut at 76 rpm

[mcchillagorilla]

Lovely record, but my ear tells me the rpm is a bit slow. The timbre of the trumpets seems a bit off. I would like to hear it at 80 or so.